In 2009, Morocco reported a 5.4% economic growth.
In 2009-2008, Morocco made progress with human rights, including women’s rights, though there were allegations of torture in matters of counter-terrorism efforts. Also on this topic, here have been no executions in Morocco since 1993.
Daylight savings begins in Morocco on June 1st, 2009, finishing the schedule earlier than had been planned. Officials say that this will save energy and boost trade.
In response to Morocco’s growing HIV/AIDS problem, the Health Minister said that between 2007 and 2011, he hopes that prevention programs will reach one million people.
In 2009, eight people were arrested. They are suspected of being part of a radical Islamic group, Salafia Jihad, and were accused of planning attacks. There are no details on the acts these men were supposedly going to commit.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Morocco's Culture
The main languages spoken in Morocco are Arabic , French, Spanish, and English, although ten million citizens speak Berber. Arabic is the official dialect, but French is taught and used in commerce. English and Spanish, however, are becoming available as foreign language courses in schools.
Though Morocco’s main religion is Islam, one of the main cultural beliefs is that one should accept all other religions. Most Moroccans are Sunni Muslims. Religion plays a role in politics, an example being that the king is called ‘Amir El Mouminin’, or ‘Leader of the Faithful’. The country is also home to numerous mosques. Moroccan women have more rights than women in many other Islamic nations, including the ability not to wear a veil as most Muslim women do, though revealing clothing like shorts and low-cut dresses are considered to be too provocative to wear in public.
Traditional Moroccan weddings are quite elaborate. The bride is given a hammam, or milk bath, to purify her before the wedding. Negaffa, who are often married older women, line the bride’s eyes with kohl, dress her in a wedding kaftan and heavy jewelry, and paint elaborate henna designs on her feet and hands. Brides sometimes aren’t to do housework until the henna has worn off. Preparations and pre-wedding ceremonies can take seven days.
Though Morocco’s main religion is Islam, one of the main cultural beliefs is that one should accept all other religions. Most Moroccans are Sunni Muslims. Religion plays a role in politics, an example being that the king is called ‘Amir El Mouminin’, or ‘Leader of the Faithful’. The country is also home to numerous mosques. Moroccan women have more rights than women in many other Islamic nations, including the ability not to wear a veil as most Muslim women do, though revealing clothing like shorts and low-cut dresses are considered to be too provocative to wear in public.
Traditional Moroccan weddings are quite elaborate. The bride is given a hammam, or milk bath, to purify her before the wedding. Negaffa, who are often married older women, line the bride’s eyes with kohl, dress her in a wedding kaftan and heavy jewelry, and paint elaborate henna designs on her feet and hands. Brides sometimes aren’t to do housework until the henna has worn off. Preparations and pre-wedding ceremonies can take seven days.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Morroco Fiction Scene
Written from the prospective of a French colonist in the 19th century.
Our huge ship blocked what would’ve been a beautiful view of the Mediterranean Sea. The sun was hidden behind the sails and the water didn’t sparkle as it did when we’d first docked here. Ah, well, I had nothing else to look at. God knows I’d stared at those old Moorish buildings for far too long, weaving in and out of the ornate stone arches for hours upon end and enduring the stares of the natives who leaned out of their windows.
Capitan Louis said that we’d be taking over this place soon. Almost makes me feel sorry for those poor souls, most of which were brown-skinned young women with small children clinging to their dresses.
Sometimes it makes me think about the streets back in Paris. Except the women there were buying bread, not begging for it from what they’d heard were rich and powerful Frenchmen. One, a lovely woman with sleek black hair, threw herself at my leg and babbled in a language I knew nothing of. Probably wanted money or something of the sort. I threw her a gold coin. The poor thing smiled from ear to ear, kissed my cheek, and ran off to show her children. I wish I could’ve done more for them.
“John!” Capitan Louis yelled. “Stop daydreaming and get back to work!”
“Doing what?” I asked.
“Find something!”
I sighed and got up. With one last look at the blue-green sea, I walked back into the maze of winding dirt streets.
Our huge ship blocked what would’ve been a beautiful view of the Mediterranean Sea. The sun was hidden behind the sails and the water didn’t sparkle as it did when we’d first docked here. Ah, well, I had nothing else to look at. God knows I’d stared at those old Moorish buildings for far too long, weaving in and out of the ornate stone arches for hours upon end and enduring the stares of the natives who leaned out of their windows.
Capitan Louis said that we’d be taking over this place soon. Almost makes me feel sorry for those poor souls, most of which were brown-skinned young women with small children clinging to their dresses.
Sometimes it makes me think about the streets back in Paris. Except the women there were buying bread, not begging for it from what they’d heard were rich and powerful Frenchmen. One, a lovely woman with sleek black hair, threw herself at my leg and babbled in a language I knew nothing of. Probably wanted money or something of the sort. I threw her a gold coin. The poor thing smiled from ear to ear, kissed my cheek, and ran off to show her children. I wish I could’ve done more for them.
“John!” Capitan Louis yelled. “Stop daydreaming and get back to work!”
“Doing what?” I asked.
“Find something!”
I sighed and got up. With one last look at the blue-green sea, I walked back into the maze of winding dirt streets.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Morocco's Geography
Morocco lies in northwestern Africa and is across the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain. It’s a mountainous region, bordered by both the Atlas and Rif Mountains, and more humid forests include plants such as cork and evergreen oak. Juniper and maritime pine are more common in dry regions. During the years when the French colonized Morocco, they introduced the eucalyptus tree. Morocco still has several eucalyptus plantations. Shrubs – like rosemary, heather, myrtle, and broom – often grow on the lower slopes of mountains, where the land has been grazed or burned by slash and burn farmers.
Morocco is known for its wide variety of birds, especially migratory birds like the stork, pelican, flamingo, and cattle egret. Gazelles, wild sheep live, and a fox called the fennecs live in southern regions of Morocco. The Barbary macaque, a monkey native to Morocco, thrives in forests near the middle of the Atlas Mountains.
The Atlantic Ocean runs the western coast of Morocco and the Mediterranean Sea borders the country to the north. Northern parts of Morocco have hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters like many Mediterranean countries.
Morocco is known for its wide variety of birds, especially migratory birds like the stork, pelican, flamingo, and cattle egret. Gazelles, wild sheep live, and a fox called the fennecs live in southern regions of Morocco. The Barbary macaque, a monkey native to Morocco, thrives in forests near the middle of the Atlas Mountains.
The Atlantic Ocean runs the western coast of Morocco and the Mediterranean Sea borders the country to the north. Northern parts of Morocco have hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters like many Mediterranean countries.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Morocco's History
The country of Morocco was originally inhabited by the Berbers, people indigenous to the west Nile Valley and Northern Africa. In the 7th century A.D., Morocco was invaded by the Arabs, who brought Islam. The two groups attempted to invade Spain in 711, but the Berbers – tired of being second class citizens – turned on the Arabs and gained control of large portions of Moorish Spain. They were later forced out in the 13th century.
Morocco was a Barbary state in the 17th and 18th centuries, a headquarters for the pirates who sailed the Mediterranean Sea. Around 1840, the French and Spanish colonized it, but had many territory disputes. Finally, in 1904, they divided the country into zones. France controlled most of the regions, leaving a tiny southwestern area to Spain. Germany tried to get in on the colonization in 1905, which nearly led to a war in Europe. The Algeciras Conference in 1906 limited France’s hold on Morocco.
In 1956, Morocco gained independence from Spain and France. Morocco’s government became what is known as a constitutional monarchy or ‘Hassanian Government’, named after King Hassan, which gave the people political freedom while under the rule of a monarch.
Morocco has occupied Western Sahara since the 1970’s. Western Sahara was formerly Spanish Sahara and was the small portion of Morocco that Spain had ruled. After the Spanish relinquished it in 1976, Morocco and another country, Mauritania, flooded to Western Sahara. Morocco has completely occupied it since 1979, when Mauritania left the country. The Polisario Group has fought for the independence of Western Sahara since 1976. Although the UN agreed on a cease-fire in 1991, the current king of Morocco, Muhammed VI, has said that Morocco “will not renounce an inch of it”. Morocco has, in fact, been opposed to the treaty for the last decade.
Terrorists attacked Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city, on May 16, 2003. There were also bombings in 2004 and a sudden surge of suicide bombings in 2007.
Morocco was a Barbary state in the 17th and 18th centuries, a headquarters for the pirates who sailed the Mediterranean Sea. Around 1840, the French and Spanish colonized it, but had many territory disputes. Finally, in 1904, they divided the country into zones. France controlled most of the regions, leaving a tiny southwestern area to Spain. Germany tried to get in on the colonization in 1905, which nearly led to a war in Europe. The Algeciras Conference in 1906 limited France’s hold on Morocco.
In 1956, Morocco gained independence from Spain and France. Morocco’s government became what is known as a constitutional monarchy or ‘Hassanian Government’, named after King Hassan, which gave the people political freedom while under the rule of a monarch.
Morocco has occupied Western Sahara since the 1970’s. Western Sahara was formerly Spanish Sahara and was the small portion of Morocco that Spain had ruled. After the Spanish relinquished it in 1976, Morocco and another country, Mauritania, flooded to Western Sahara. Morocco has completely occupied it since 1979, when Mauritania left the country. The Polisario Group has fought for the independence of Western Sahara since 1976. Although the UN agreed on a cease-fire in 1991, the current king of Morocco, Muhammed VI, has said that Morocco “will not renounce an inch of it”. Morocco has, in fact, been opposed to the treaty for the last decade.
Terrorists attacked Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city, on May 16, 2003. There were also bombings in 2004 and a sudden surge of suicide bombings in 2007.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
